Using Headphones While Walking a Dangerous Move

Jan. 17, 2012 -- The dangers of driving while talking on a cell phone may be in the news, but walking while wearing headphones can also be deadly.

A new study shows that in the last six years, serious injuries and deaths have tripled among pedestrians struck by a car or train while wearing headphones connected to an iPod or other handheld device.

Between 2004 and 2011, 116 injuries among pedestrians wearing headphones were reported in the U.S., including 81 deaths. The majority of crashes were among young people in urban areas.

Researchers say the number of injuries is on the rise along with the popularity of iPods and other MP3 devices. In 2004-2005, the number of injuries reported was 16, and by 2010-2011, the number had risen to 47.

Pedestrian Injuries Linked to Headphone Use

In the study, researchers analyzed information from national databases and the media for reports of pedestrian injuries or deaths from crashes involving trains or motor vehicles between 2004 and 2011. Cases involving cell phones, including hands-free devices, were not included.

A total of 116 injuries were reported, and 70% resulted in death. More than two-thirds of the victims were male (68%) and under the age of 30 (67%).

More than half of the crashes involved trains (55%), and 89% of the accidents occurred in urban areas.

In about three out of four cases, eyewitnesses reported the victim was wearing headphones. In the remaining cases, there was evidence in the report that suggested the victim may have been wearing headphones or headphones were found in the victim’s ears or at the scene.

Why Headphones May Be Dangerous

Researchers say there are two likely explanations for the link between headphone use and pedestrian injury: distraction and environmental isolation.

Distraction caused by the use of electronic devices is known as “inattentional blindness.” It involves the distraction of interpreting sound as well as the distraction needed to operate the device.

Inattentional blindness has already been implicated as an important emerging cause of motor vehicle accidents. Now studies like this one are also linking it to pedestrian injuries.